Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a plurality of casters allowing the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be moved according to a control signal, a detection sensor configured to detect a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an input configured to receive a control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from a user, and a controller configured to determine whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of at least one of the detected motion or the received control command, and upon determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, transmit a control signal for locking at least one of the plurality of casters.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising:
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the controller is further configured to lock the at least one caster based on receiving a user input for starting diagnosis.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the controller is further configured to lock the at least one caster based on receiving a user input by at least one input device of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the controller is configured to lock the at least one caster in response to receiving the user input for operating the ultrasound probe.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a touch panel, a track ball, a keyboard, a foot switch, a mouse, a knob, or a paddle.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, further comprising a probe holder, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically lock the at least one caster in response to electrically detecting that the ultrasound probe is being dismounted from the probe holder.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein each of the at least one caster comprises a wheel and a locking device configured to lock the wheel,
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein each of the at least one caster comprises a wheel and a motor configured to rotate the wheel,
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the controller is further configured to unlock the at least one caster based on receiving a user input for unlocking the at least one caster.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the controller is further configured to unlock the at least one caster in response to the ultrasound probe not being operated, such that the at least one caster can move the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus while the ultrasound probe is not being operated.
. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of, wherein the controller is further configured to unlock the at least one caster in response to an operation of the ultrasound probe being stopped, such that the at least one caster can move the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus while the ultrasound probe is not being operated.
. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising:
. A method of controlling an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasound probe connectable to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, at least one caster configured to be locked or unlocked, the method comprising:
. The method of, further comprising locking the at least one caster based on receiving a user input by at least one input device of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
. The method of, wherein the locking the at least one caster based on receiving the user input comprises locking the at least one caster in response to receiving the user input for operating the ultrasound probe.
. The method of, wherein the locking the at least one caster comprises automatically locking the at least one caster in response to electrically detecting that the ultrasound probe is being dismounted from a probe holder.
. The method of, further comprising unlocking the at least one caster in response to the operation of the ultrasound probe being stopped, such that the at least one caster can move the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus while the ultrasound probe is not being operated.
. The method of, further comprising: while an auto lock function of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is being deactivated, maintaining unlocking of the at least one caster even if the ultrasound probe being operated is electrically detected.
Complete technical specification and implementation details from the patent document.
This application is a Continuation Patent Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/831,880, filed on Jun. 3, 2022, which is a Continuation Patent Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/776,093, filed on Jan. 29, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,375,977, issued on Jul. 5, 2022, which is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2019-0017988, filed on Feb. 15, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The disclosure relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for acquiring an image of an internal state of an object using ultrasound, and a method of controlling the same.
Ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses operate to irradiate an ultrasound signal generated from a transducer of a probe to an object and receive an echo signal reflected from the object to acquire an image of the internal site of the object.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus has advantages in that it is inexpensive and moveable, is displayable in real time, and has high safety compared to X-ray diagnostic devices due to having no risk of exposure to X-rays or the like, and thus are widely used in a variety of fields, such as medical fields and the like.
Such a trend has led the ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses to be variously advanced, and increased the weight of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and thus when a user moves the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a great amount of strength is required.
In order to remove such a limitation, various efforts have been conducted to minimize the force that the user takes to move the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by providing all canisters for movement of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be independently moveable or replacing all the canisters with electric casters.
However, as the degree of freedom of movement of a control panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus increases, the electric caster operates with a high sensitivity, and thus even when a user desires to use the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be moved regardless of the user's intention.
Therefore, it is an object of the disclosure to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of minimizing unneeded movement of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus or preventing an accident due to an undesired movement of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus by detecting a motion or input of a user and determining whether the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the detected motion or input and automatically locking casters of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.
Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including: a plurality of casters allowing the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be moved according to a control signal; a detection sensor configured to detect a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus; an input configured to receive a control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from a user; and a controller configured to determine whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of at least one of the detected motion or the received control command, and upon determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, transmit a control signal for locking at least one of the plurality of casters.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may include: a probe configured to radiate an ultrasound signal to an object and receive an ultrasound signal that is the ultrasound signal being radiated to the object, reflected from the object, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the probe.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may further include: a monitor, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the monitor.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may further include a control panel configured to control the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the control panel.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may further include a keyboard, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the keyboard.
The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may further include a footrest on which a foot of the user is rested, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the footrest.
The controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to receiving at least one of a unlock command for changing a position of a monitor or a diagnosis start command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from the user.
The input may include a display provided in a monitor, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to the display receiving the control command from the user.
The input may include a trackball provided in a control panel, wherein the controller may determine that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to the trackball receiving the control command from the user.
The input may receive a unlock command for unlocking the plurality of casters from the user, wherein the controller may transmit a control signal for unlocking the plurality of casters in response to the input receiving the unlock command for the plurality of casters from the user.
The input may receive a command for activating or deactivating an auto lock function of the caster from the user, and in response to receiving the command for deactivating the auto lock function of the cast, the controller may prevent the control signal for locking the at least one of the plurality of casters even when it is determined that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus
The detection sensor may include at least one of a current sensor for detecting current generated by at least one of the detected motion or the received control command, or an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or a motion sensor for detecting a movement generated by a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a method of controlling an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, the method including: detecting a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus; receiving a control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from a user; determining whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of at least one of the detected motion or the received control command; and upon determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, transmitting a control signal for locking at least one of the plurality of casters.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the detected motion may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the probe.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the detected motion may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the monitor.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the detected motion may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the control panel.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the detected motion may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the keyboard.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the detected motion may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to detecting a position change of the footrest.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the received control command may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to receiving at least one of a unlock command for changing a position of the monitor or a diagnosis start command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from the user.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the received control command may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to the display receiving the control command from the user.
The determining of whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of the received control command may include determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in response to the trackball receiving the control command from the user.
The method may further include receiving a unlock command for unlocking the plurality of casters from the user, and in response to receiving the unlock command, transmitting a control signal to unlock the plurality of casters.
The method may further include receiving a command for activating or deactivating an auto lock function of the caster from the user, and in response to receiving the command for deactivating the auto lock function of the cast, preventing the control signal for locking the at least one of the plurality of casters even when it is determined that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
The detecting of the motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the receiving of the control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from the user may include detecting current generated by at least one of the detected motion or the received control command.
The detecting of the motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may include detecting a change position of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that is generated by a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. Not all elements of embodiments of the disclosure will be described, and description of what are commonly known in the art or what overlap each other in the embodiments will be omitted. The terms as used throughout the specification, such as “˜part”, “˜module”, “˜member”, “˜block”, etc., may be implemented in software and/or hardware, and a plurality of “˜parts”, “˜modules”, “˜members”, or “˜blocks” maybe implemented in a single element, or a single “˜part”, “˜module”, “˜member”, or “˜block” may include a plurality of elements.
It will be further understood that the term “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection, and the indirect connection includes a connection over a wireless communication network.
It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
Further, it will be further understood when a signal or data is transferred, sent or transmitted from “an element” to “another element”, it does not exclude another element between the element and the other element passed by the signal or data therethrough, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Although the terms “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” etc. may be used to describe various components, the terms do not limit the corresponding components, but are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Reference numerals used for method steps are just used for convenience of explanation, but not to limit an order of the steps. Thus, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the written order may be practiced otherwise.
Hereinafter, embodiments of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatusaccording to an aspect and a method of controlling the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.
is an external view illustrating an ultrasound diagnostic apparatusaccording to an embodiment.
Referring to, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatusaccording to the embodiment is an apparatus for displaying an ultrasound image by radiating an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound signal reflected from the object.
To this end, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatusmay include a probethat radiates an ultrasound signal to an object and receives an ultrasound signal reflected on the object. A transducer module may be provided inside the ultrasound probe, and the ultrasound probemay be connected to a main bodyof the ultrasound diagnostic apparatusthrough a cable.
To this end, the main bodymay be provided at a front lower portion thereof with one or more female connectors. A male connectorprovided at one end of the cablemay be physically coupled to the female connector.
One or more probe holdersfor mounting the ultrasound probemay be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the main body. Accordingly, when the user does not use the ultrasound probe, the user may store the ultrasound probeon the probe holder.
A monitorincluding a displaymay be provided at an upper side of the main body. The displaymay be implemented as at least one of various display panels, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel.
In addition, the displaymay be composed of two or more displays such that each display simultaneously displays a different image. For example, one display may display a 2D ultrasound image, and the other display may display a 3D ultrasound image. Alternatively, one display may display a B-mode image, and the other display may display a contrast agent image.
In addition, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatusmay further a sub monitorthat performs the same function as that of the monitor.
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May 5, 2026
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